Windows Forum

Ask something
Discussion Locked

Win 98 installation problem

0 helpful
9 replies

by pcgirl79 1 view

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

I am attempting to do a clean install of Windows 98 SE from a CD-ROM. The installation goes smoothly until it's time for the first reboot of the system (after plug and play hardware is detected, etc.). When the machine is rebooted, the Win 98 splash screen comes up, and then I get the following message:

"you started your computer with a version of MS-DOS incompatible with this version of Windows. Insert a startup diskette matching this version of Windows and restart."

I inserted the original Win 98 startup diskette that came with the CD-ROM but the same message still came up. I have even tried to reformat the hard disk but I still have the same problem. Please help!

9 replies

by earnest

Confusing.. By this time it matters not what was on the floppy disk. Windows cd should have loaded Os from cd and the os should care not what was on the boot floppy. The boot floppy should have just enough smarts to find the cdrom. You are removingthe floppy after the win98_se install starts aren't you? Then when 98 boots it should boot from the c: drive, which contains your just loaded win98 os. Make sure you have the hard disk as a choice in the bios. I wouldn't even install an os after youformat the disk. Let the cdrom-Install do that.

Good Luck,
Bo

by mphoffar

Sounds like you sys'd the C drive with a version of windows with a command.com older then 98SE (like 95A or OSR2) You might be able to just copy the command.com from the Cd-Rom onto the root of C and be done with this.

If that doesn't work, justformat the hard drive. There's no need to do a /s flag with this. Setup will take care of everything to make it bootable.

Good lcu kto you

Mark

by butlerchuck

What I would do if you have another pc to make a bootble disk with cd rom support, is use fdisk to view and then del the primary partiton. Then use fdisk to creat a primary partition. Then format the drive. Use xcopy to copy the windows cd to thec drive then run set up from there. each time it starts it will go stright to that folder instead of the cd. This will also help in the furter when you want to install apps or hardware, it will not ask you for the cd it will go stright to that folder again. If you need help with making a bootble disk go to bootdisk.com. There you find every thing that you need.

by Former member

Here's the easiest answer, no need for making other boot disks or anything...

Boot from your floppy and don't start the setup yet. From the floppy run FDISK to delete and recreate the partitions. Reboot without running setup again. From the CDrun format c: /s - This will format your hard drive and copy system files from your floppy. Now, just a free tip. Make a directory on your hard drive called "disks" then make a sub-directory called "win98". Copy all your win98 files from your CD into this subdirectory and run setup from the hard drive. It will run faster and in the future when windows looks for the cab files to install things, it won't prompt you for the CD but finds them by itslef on the hard drive. Sure is easier than trying to hunt down that CD!

Good luck

This discussion is closed to new replies.